Main navigation

Breadcrumb

IPC celebrates National Reconciliation Week

28 May 2018

National Reconciliation Week is held annually from 27 May to 3 June and is a time to celebrate and build on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.

‘Last year the IPC released its IPC Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 2017 – 2020, which outlines how we are working with our diverse stakeholders to champion the right to access government information and protect privacy,' said Ms Elizabeth Tydd, CEO of the Information and Privacy Commission NSW and NSW Open Data Advocate.

‘The IPC has committed to a number of initiatives relevant to National Reconciliation Week, such as working with agencies and developing new guidance to support easier access by clients of out of home care, including members of the ‘stolen generations’ and their relatives, to their historical personal information. Appropriate access to these records requires a careful but efficient balancing of interests to ensure the various perspectives of the holders and applicants for information are managed consistently and with regard to the sensitivity of the information,’ Ms Tydd said.

Ms Samantha Gavel, NSW Privacy Commissioner, is also supporting better out of home care services through improved, privacy-respectful data sharing.

‘Better data sharing that recognises and respects an individual’s privacy can be an important way to address the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in the out of home care system and improve outcomes for these children and young people and their families,’ Ms Gavel said.

National Reconciliation Week is an opportunity to learn more about the culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to grow as a nation.